Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski scored twice to set his side on course for a 5-0 Champions League thrashing of Swiss side Young Boys on Tuesday as the Catalan giants bounced back from a 2-1 loss at AS Monaco in its opener. After a sizzling start to its La Liga campaign that featured seven consecutive wins, Barcelona slumped to a shock 4-2 defeat at Osasuna on Saturday, but Hansi Flick’s side returned to form in dominating fashion. Lewandowski gave the hosts the lead in the eighth minute by tapping in a low Raphinha cross after a fine combination between the Brazilian forward and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Barca were in full control with over 75% of possession when Young Boys wasted a golden opportunity to score the equaliser from a counter attack in the 30th minute. The hosts failed to clear a cross and Ebrima Colley met the loose ball unchallenged at the far post, but his poor strike went well wide of the post. After squandering some decent chances, including a fine Yamal strike that was denied by the goalkeeper, a quick-fire double from Raphinha and Inigo Martinez gave Barca a 3-0 lead.
The Brazilian netted a rebound from a corner in the 34th and defender Martinez scored with a towering header less than three minutes later from a cross by Pedri. Lewandowski got his second and Barca’s fourth in the 51st minute with a header in the six-yard box from a Martinez corner, before defender Mohamed Camara bundled the ball into his own net in the 81st trying to clear an.
